Chapel Hill

We’ve always loved the energy of sleepy little college towns. While Chapel Hill is still firmly entrenched in tradition, much of it having a little something to do with Tarheel fever, you will find plenty other pursuits worth investigating. We were immediately struck with the myriad of culinary options in a small radius. Walk a few blocks and you’ll hit some of downtown’s award-winning Indian,Turkish, Asian, Mexican, and Southern cuisine. Once you’ve filled your belly, head to the Ackland Museum Store for some really great gifts. The Ackland Art Museum is just a short stroll away to complete your cultural fix. But there’s more to Chapel Hill beyond Franklin St.–sophisticated design shops like Palette & Parlor and Urbane Decor; old school record shops like Back Door; and even a speakeasy (mum’s the word). Be sure to allow some hang time in funky Carrboro, and if you’re feeling like some country air is in order, plan a trip to the charming village of Fearrington, which somehow manages swanky and pastoral at the same time. Mostly, you’ll leave knowing that while everybody knows a 33 oz. blue plastic cup from He’s Not Here is pretty awesome, Chapel Hill is here to show you their range has gotten a bit wider.

Midtown/Meadowmont Village Area

D=Do; E=Eat/Drink; S=Shop

Allen & Son Bar-B-Que Don’t bother asking for unsweet tea, Northerners. This is as Southern as it gets. This is hickory smoked BBQ perfection. 6203 Millhouse Rd. (E)

The Chelsea Theater is a three-screen movie house that shows mostly independent films.You can enjoy a beer, wine, or the usual suspects at the concession stand, but bring cash. The Chelsea Theater doesn’t accept cards. 1129 Weaver Dairy Rd.(D)

The Pig Don’t be put off by the homogeneous-looking exterior. We know you might be expecting a ramshackle pit, considering the lore of a good bbq spot. But sometimes good stuff comes in a carefully wrapped little package. The Pig serves locally-raised, antibotic and hormone-free pork. They make their own pickles and offer meat alternatives like BBQ Tempeh and Country Fried Tofu. We are drawn to the Vietnamese Pork Cheek sandwich. 630 Weaver Dairy Rd. (E)

The Root CellarCafe and Catering If you didn’t have a hearty appetite when you walked in, you will quickly develop one scanning the multiple chalkboard menus and tempting displays of baked goods. The mammoth breakfast biscuit we ordered was overflowing with fluffy scrambled eggs (from Latta’s Egg Ranch) and Ashe County cheddar. Root Cellar is the perfect place to assemble a food gift for your gourmand friend while you are picking up lunch. 750 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. (E)

Flyleaf BookstoreThese community-minded, independent booksellers are on their game. Flyleaf has a nicely curated selection of books in a spacious, welcoming environment. With writing groups, storytime, book clubs, and author events, Flyleaf has plenty to engage you. 752 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. (S)

Sally Mack Home This eclectic home decor and gift shop in the Midtown Market striphas a little something to brighten your day. We love the collection of Urban Oxide satchels and fun embroidered pillows. For those looking for a style upgrade, Sally Mack carries Surya rugs too. 762-A Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. (S)

Kitchen was voted Best French restaurant by Chapel Hill Magazine readers. With four different preparations of mussels, Kitchen will indeed be your happy place. The Country Style Pate and Polenta Poundcake with Red Wine Poached Pears are nice bookends for a lovely meal. 764 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. (E)

Lucha Tigre When the food description reads: “pork belly, bun, ridiculous,” we suggest you order it. Lucha Tigre don’t play. Then there’s the crisp, perfect flake of the Empanadas, the unique twist of the Ginger Sake Guacamole, the ahh-inducing Basil Saketini. You might be beginning to see our problem. If you can tear yourself away from their Beef Bulgogi, try one of the Pumpkin Red Curry tacos. 746 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. (E)

Jujube The Asian Fusion restaurant has a few surprises up its chef’s coat. For instance, the Jujube Bolognese with Hoisin Braised Pork on wide rice noodles is not exactly standard fare, but you’ll be quick to add it to your favorites list. Get in there on a Wednesday after 6 for #humpdaydumplins– all dumplings half price. 1201 Raleigh Rd. (E)

Merritt’s Store and Grill The food is delicious and the folks are friendly. Try their “destination sandwich,” the BLT on local artisan bread. The lovely woman at the counter suggested adding avocado. Good call. 1009 S. Columbia St. (E)

NC Botantical Garden is a great place for a run. Be sure to check out Patrick Dougherty’s incredible stickwork sculpture. 100 Old Mason Farm Rd.(D)

Urbane DecorAndrea Buchheit strives for “a neutral palette with color in just the right spot to excite the eye…combining modern and masculine and soft and feminine in our collection.” We’re diggin’ it. Don’t miss this small, but mighty home decor boutique. 702 Meadowmont Village Circle (S)

[One] RestaurantThis is the kind of place you go after binge-watching Top Chef. You can pretend to be Tom or Padma, whichever floats your boat, and see chefs Kim Floresca and Daniel Ryan execute their dishes with the meticulous flourishes that won them Food & Wine’s People’s Best New Chef Southeast award. One’sBeef Tartare on Beef Tendon Chips garnered a spot on the “7 Killer Dishes List” at Food&Wine last month. 100 Meadowmont Village Circle(E)

University Mall Area

D=Do; E=Eat/Drink; S=Shop

While you’re up, why not get a run in? Make your way to the Chapel Hill Community Center. In the back you’ll find the Gene Stroud CommunityRose Garden and the trailhead to Bolin Creek with a link to Battle Branch Trails. 120 S. Estes Dr. (D)

If you are a foodie, and I presume you are, go to Southern Season. Imagine a department store filled with specialty foods, candy, wine, coffee, housewares, baked goods, and a top notch cooking school. Great. You’ve got the idea. 201 S. Estes Dr. (S)

University of North Carolina

Playmaker’s Repertory Company is the resident professional theatre company of UNC. Lots of companies have post show discussions with the artists, and we are all in. But Playmaker’s takes it one step further. In partnership with the North Carolina Psychoanalytic Society, the plays undergo an in depth analysis from a psychological perspective in their Mindplay series. Righteous. College of Arts and Sciences UNC (D)

Coker Arboretum Take a stroll through the grounds of the Coker Arboretum on UNC campus located next to the Morehead Planetarium & Science Center at the corner of Country Club Road and Raleigh Street. Open from dawn until dusk, these romantic gardens will be your new zen place. 399 E. Cameron Ave. (D)

Wanting to stretch your legs a bit? UNCoffers several trails for running, walking, or cycling. Battle Park on UNC campus has great wooded trails. If you are looking for more of a challenging ascent try Solitary Hill or Rainy Day Trail.

Lumina Theater, in Southern Village, now serves coffee which might come in handy for those extended-cut films. They serve beer from local Carolina Brewery, as well as wine. From May through September, Lumina hosts the popular Outdoor Movies on the Green series. 620 Market St.(D)

Twighas everything you can imagine to keep your home’s carbon footprint low. Specializing in “green living and giving”,Twighas been voted Best Environmentally Friendly Store in the Triangle multiple times by Indy Weekly readers. Do something good for the Earth today. 99 S. Elliot Rd. Suite 1 (S)

Caffe Driade Looking for a serene place to sip your coffee? Get yourself over to Caffe Driade. They develop direct relationships with the growers. You can commune with nature on their secluded patio. Or if you were seeking something a little stronger–beer, wine, and cigars are also available. Catch a band on the outdoor stage some evenings. Bike parking is now available. 1215 E. Franklin St. (E)

Time OutYou decide whether the chicken and cheddar biscuit is the “best in America”. We’re don’t have a dog in this hunt. 201 E. Franklin St. (E)

Zog’s Art Bar and Pool Hall Enjoy the art/pop culture melange while consuming your favorite beverage. Pool, darts, board games, and a box of random art supplies for you to play with (which Zog’s attests is “a great way to start/avoid conversation”).Join them for Masterpiece Monday and sketch a still life of the wacky assorted objects the crew at Zog’s pulls together weekly. 108 1/2 Henderson St. (D)

Varsity Theatre, built in 1927, recently embarked on a (successful) Kickstarter campaign to fund an upgrade to digital equipment. Show your support of the beloved movie house, and drop by to see a flick. 123 E. Franklin St.(D)

Bunshas consistently been crowned best burger in Chapel Hill. They are known for their dipping sauces which accompany the house cut fries. 107 N. Columbia St. (E)

D=Do; E=Eat/Drink; S=Shop

Ackland Museum Store We adore the Foster Weld belt buckles, the hand blocked tea towels, jewelry, books…well, just about everything in this light-filled store. All proceeds support the exhibition and education programs at Ackland Art Museum (which naturally should be your next stop–perhaps for Yoga in theGalleries, Mondays at noon.) 101 S. Columbia St. (S)

Top of the Hill Brewery and Restaurant First of all, the building is quite unassuming. As in, you may feel as if you’re running late to Chemistry 101 as you scale the institutional stairway and stand before the unmarked conference doors. But low and behold, there it is behind the nondescript entry–the famed Top of the Hill. We were disappointed to hear you can’t purchase bottles of TOPO Organic Vodka on site. However, we were happy enough sipping on Blue Ridge Blueberry and enjoying the view overlooking Franklin. 100 E. Franklin St. (E)

FRANK Gallery holds Thursday Night Salons; drop in for an artist lecture, poetry reading, or performance. Be sure to catch FRANK’s popular Rubbish to Runway show in the fall. Check their online calendar for current happenings. 109 E. Franklin St. (D)

Blue Dogwood Public Market306 W. Franklin St. (S)

Cholanadserves excellent Indian dishes in an elegant setting. 308 W. Franklin St. (E)

The Crunkleton This is a membership only bar– meaning fill out an application (download online), turn it in at the door with a measly 5 dollars to cover you and up to three of your inner circle, and enjoy the lifetime membership. Garden & Gun described Crunkleton as “dark, and smart, and simple.” TheCrunk is replete with Mission style furniture created by Warren Hile (for sale), rotating art exhibitions, a Wurlitzer jukebox, and 300 bottles of spirits. Bonus: Catch the magic show on alternate Saturday nights. 320 W. Franklin St.(E)

The Terra Vita Food and Drink Festivalis a three day event you won’t want to miss. Terra Vita will “return in the fall of 2015 with top chefs, food artisans, sommeliers, baristas, brewers, distillers, cookbook authors and industry luminaries from across the Southeast to celebrate culinary excellence and sustainability in food and drink.”

The Bookshop of Chapel Hill is as known for the cat in the window as for its immense selection of rare and used books. Browse the well-organized shelves to your heart’s content. Red and Elmo, the store cats, may not have a recommendation for you, but they seem supportive of your choices. 400 W. Franklin St. (S)

CD Alley Browse elbow-to-elbow with intrepid music fans in this small, but well stocked, record store. CDAlley carries both new and used vinyl, CDs and DVDs, filed neatly to make it easy for you to find your next plum pick. 405-C W. Franklin St. (S)

SandWhich When you see the Lamb Tagine served on Focaccia, you start to get the idea that this is not a run of the mill sandwich shop. Ingredients are locally sourced when possible. Most everything is made from scratch including their spicy ketchup. If you head in on a Thursday after 5, Whichburgers are $5. 407 W. Franklin St. (E)

Mediterranean Deli For something quick and tasty, Med Deli, as the locals call it, is your place. The joint is jumpin’. Be sure to check out their adjoining Mediterranean Market.410 W. Franklin St. (E)

D=Do; E=Eat/Drink; S=Shop

Thrill City Before you go thinking this is just another sports-centric t-shirt company, consider Thrill City’sSCAM tee (a clear commentary on the NCAA scandal) featured on ESPN. Owners Ryan Cocca and Rohan Smith seem to have a larger agenda. We’re all for it. “Artwork in Progress”422-A W. Franklin St. (S)

LanternChef Andrea Reusing was recipient of the James Beard award, so you know the food is banging. To feel like you’ve entered a parallel, more cosmopolitan universe, you need to head back to Lantern Gardenand enjoy your Asian fusion there. Be sure to check out Art in The Alley after your scrumptious meal. Lantern commissioned Chapel Hill artist Ron Liberti for 8 panels based on his popular rock posters. 423 W. Franklin St. (E)

Vimala’s Curryblossom CafeIf you’ve found the courtyard, you already feel like a real Chapel Hill native. To solidify your insider status, head to Vimala’s Curryblossom for some epic curry, or any of their other tasty Indian dishes. A Triangle favorite, Vimala’s has the feel of a block party during busy times. Order at the counter and hustle to an available seat. 431 W. Franklin St. (E)

The CaveIn answer to your unspoken question–yes, it is quite cave-like, with loud music, cheep beer, and paper mache walls. It’s a dive for people who really dig music. 452 1/2 W. Franklin St. (D)

Elaine’s on Franklinoffers a $35 Prix Fixe tasting menu, but it’s only from 5:30-6:30. So if you’re looking to impress with a little moonlight in this romantic restaurant, you’re going to have to shell out some more cash. 454 W. Franklin St.

Talullas serves authentic Mediterranean food. Whether you are there for the turkish coffee and baklava, a mezze platter, or the doner kebabs, you’ll leave happy to return. 456 W. Franklin St. (E)

Local 506Be sure to stop by an ATM before you see one of your favorite bands here; they only accept cash. There is a $3 membership fee which can be paid at the door. Don’t sweat it–it’s only $3. 506 W. Franklin St. (D)

Al’s Burger Shack On the west end of Franklin. If you’re on your way to Carrboro, stop. You know you want to. We know how it is. 516 W. Franklin St. (E)

Crook’s Corner The New York Times called it “sacred ground for Southern foodies.” Try Bill Smith’s famous fried oysters and the frozen mint julep. If you’re hankering for a sweet finish, order up Smith’s acclaimed Atlantic Beach Pie (Food 52’s Genius Recipes’ Greatest Hits). 610 W. Franklin St. (E)

The Baxter Bar and Arcade is self-proclaimed “nerd-chic” and ready to accommodate your high-scoring needs, complete with drink stands for your micro-brew or tall boy (depending on how you roll). We are talking about vintage arcade games, right? 108 N.Graham St. (D)

ReCYCLEry This non-profit offers weekend workshops on bike repair and maintenance. If you’ve ever wanted to build your own bike, here’s the place to learn how. ReCYCLEry offers community members the chance to earn their own bike. Help them spread the cycling bug; find out more on their website. 108 N. Graham St. (S)

Beer Study features 19 rotating taps and 94 bottles of craft beer on the wall. You can now place an order online through squareup and pick up an hour later in store, chilled and ready to go–pretty sweet. If you’re hanging out for a bit, they’ve got N64, foosball, cornhole and board games galore.106-A N. Graham St.(E)

Rosemary St.

D=Do; E=Eat/Drink; S=Shop

Back Door CDs, Records and Tapes has been in business more than thirty years. For fans of vinyl, that is a huge plus. Owner Phil Cowan has got his hands on some rare pieces you’d be hard-pressed to find elsewhere. Back Door also carries cassettes and video games, but space is tight. We mean tight. So don’t eat a big lunch. 136 E. Rosemary St. (S)

Nightlight Bar and Club The music scene wouldn’t be complete without a little “strange” thrown in. We mean that in the best possible way. We’ll leave Nightlight to explain Nightlight: “a tiny art-land vortex run by low-income party people, a dedicated task force of well-wishers and sympathizers. The whole operation is backed up by a fabulous community of fans and music lovers who support experimentation!” There you have it. 405 1/2 W. Rosemary St.(D)

Bread & Butter The space might be a bit utilitarian, but the bread is not. Order a coffee and a chocolate croissant, and be sure to pick up a Sesame Country Loaf to go. 503 W. Rosemary St. (E)

Carrboro (technically not Chapel Hill, but a stone’s throw away)

D=Do; E=Eat/Drink; S=Shop

Back Alley Bikes handles repairs as their “main gig”; they also sell new and refurbished bikes and head up trail rides on the regular, besides being all-around solid dudes. 100 Boyd St. (S)

Bowbarr We love the trio of seasonal cocktails at Bowbarr and how they attend to the little details like infusing bourbon in-house for their Habanero Hot Toddy, or using local Carborro Coffee Roaster’s slow brew in their Snake Charmer and Little Bean concoctions. For those who go more basic, there’s PBR on tap. Bowbarr has boardgames, pinball, and records playing–for a little lo-fi fun. 705 W. Rosemary St.(E)

Vinyl Perk709 W. Rosemary St.(E)

Carrburritos bottles its own salsa.They’ve been voted “Best Burrito in the Triangle” by Indy Weekly many years running. 711 W. Rosemary St. (E)

Don’t miss the 2nd Friday Artwalk in Carrboro and Chapel Hill from 6-9 p.m. Get details on gallery openings here.

Cameron’s We suggest you visit Cameron’s in its spanking new location in Carrboro. Just when you think you have them pegged, you’ll turn the corner and find something unexpected, like wool trophy heads. 370 E. Main St. (S)

Oakleaf Restaurant serves “seasonal, progressive cuisine with French and Italian influences and small production wines in an historic, stylish setting.” Whether your palate runs to the Caramelized Sheep’s Milk Ricotta Gnocchi with mushrooms, topped with Sangiovese & tomato ragu or Oakleaf’s version of French onion soup made with Adams Farms Angus brisket confit, sherried onions, and fontina sauce, rest assured it will be memorable. Their creative menu varies according to what’s at market, so you have even more incentive to dine frequently. Leave room for dessert. We dream of their Double Bergamot Earl Grey Creme Brulee and James’Dark Chocolate Budino with suprising regularity. Stop in and choose two items from their Mill Worker’s LunchPrix Fixe menu for just $15.310 E. Main St.(E)

Surplus Sids is a military surplus store with all that implies. You know the drill. There is a whole lot of stuff to sift through. Arm yourself with patience and a hawk’s eye. 309 E. Main St. (S)

Gray Squirrel Coffee Co.300 E. Main St.(E)

Cat’s CradleThis historic music venue seats 750, but the big acts sell out quickly. So plan ahead. 300 E. Main St. (D)

YesterYear’s Brewery300 E. Main St.(E)

Internationalist Books and Community Center We know they’ve moved, but we couldn’t help but immortalize the old shop with pics at the top of the page. After all, who can resist a place that has a “We sell Street Art supplies” sign in the window? Run by volunteers, this activist bookshop is fighting the good fight. 101 Lloyd St. (S)

D=Do; E=Eat/Drink; S=Shop

Cross Ties BBQ201-C E. Main St. (E)

Weaver Street Market The beloved natural foods market stocks everything you need to keep your insides happy. The lawn is a local hangout–grab some wine or a coffee and take it all in. 101 E. Weaver St. (S)

Vespertineis a charming little gift shop just inside the Carrboro line. The owner has developed a cottage industry creating the popular heart NC necklaces out of recycled metals; you can see them in the store. Vespertine also carries handmade soaps, cards, jewelry and other goodies. 118 B E. Main St. (S)

All Day Records is a cozy little record shop right on the main drag. Shop their excellent selection of punk, soul, reggae, funk, techno, noise, jazz, psychedelic and rock (plus some other styles we missed) in person, or hop onto discogs. All Day Records keeps current on the local music scene as and often hosts in-store performances. 112-A E. Main St.(S)

Acme Food & Beverage serves a very tasty brunch. A regular went so far as to have a likeness of their popular BL-Green T sandwich tattooed on his personage. Now that’s devotion. 110 E. Main St. (E)

Orange County Social Club Their famed jukebox might get a lot of attention, but OCSC just wants to be known as a reliable place to let loose and relax. Mission accomplished. Moving into their fourteenth year, OCSC has become a Carrboro institution, complete with mirror ball shimmering in the trees out back. 108 E. Main St.(E)

Carrboro Beverage Company While bottle shops are on the rise, Carrboro Bev feels more like a trusted friend who happens to have a great selection wine, micro-brews and North Carolina beers. Join them for a free tasting and let them guide you to your next bev adventure. 102 E. Main St. (S)

Neal’s Deli For those times you’re not in the mood for a sandwich, order one of Neal’s specialty dogs on a “bretzel”. Don’t miss breakfast, either; Food and Wine magazine waxed poetic about the pastrami biscuit. We like that you can add on wilted spinach with garlic to any biscuit–that makes us automatically virtuous, right? 100 E. Main St.(E)

D=Do; E=Eat/Drink; S=Shop

Steel String Craft Brewery Nothing reflects Steel String’s neighborhood vibe more than their Wing Nights. You can hang on their patio, chow down on Matt Neal’s wings (of Neal’s Deli), and groove to your own vinyl. Or drop by anytime and sample their brews on a nifty guitar board. Keep in mind, if you’re hungry you’ll have to forage elsewhere and bring it along.106-A S. Greensboro St. (E)

Yellow Chair Market We would wager you didn’t know you needed a game trophy constructed from the seat and handlebars of an old Schwinn. But the moment you step into Yellow Chair, you’ll realize you really do. Owner Amy Caylor designs the clever “reclaimed, repurposed, and recycled” goods, and as a word of warning, that vintage card catalog or industrial cart you’ve been eyeing won’t grace the market for long. 200 N. Greensboro St.(S)

Carrboro Farmer’s Market is open Saturdays 7:00-noon or Wednesdays 3:30-6:30. 301 W. Main St. (S)

Pizzeria Mercato408 W. Weaver St.(E)

Looking GlassCafé is a great place to hang out with your laptop and a coffee. You’ll find ample parking, seating, and choice of beverages (including mimosas). When the weather is nice, the outdoor space is where you’ll want to be. If you’re looking for a harmless distraction, there’s a pool table, frequent movie nights, and live Jazz on Tuesdays. 601 W. Main St.(E)

Johnny’s Gone Fishing is many things–a coffee shop, a garden, a community center, a local market. The Taco Truck makes its home there Thursdays and Sundays after 5:30, and you can Parlez Vous Crepes on Sundays! Until then, pick up some local eggs or choose from more than thirty products made in the Triangle. Johnny’s Gone Fishing proudly serves Carrboro Coffee Roasters. 901 W. Main St. (S)

Honeysuckle Tea House and Gardens It might be a bit of a hike to the bucolic Honeysuckle Tea House, positioned on acres of fields and gardens; but once you arrive, there will be plenty to balance your chi. Offering herbals teas, tonics, Kombucha, coffee, vegan soups and wholesome baked goods–Honeysuckle Tea House will revive you. Try a smoothie or one of their Raw Herbal Chocolates. Live music on the weekends and open mic on Wednesday nights. 8871 Pickards Meadow Rd., Chapel Hill;(E)

Side Trip: Fearrington Village

Fearrington Village has plenty to offer: McIntyre’s Books; The Goat; The Granary; Dovecote Style; The Spa at Fearrington and The Fearrington House Restaurant are some of our favorites. Find out more about the village on their website.

At The Goat, pick up some Rosemary Vanilla Jam to take home. At Roost Beer Garden ask about the collaboration between Fullsteam and Fearrington House. Be sure to sample the fruits of their labor–a seasonal beer line using local ingredients harvested right from Fearrington’s own herb garden and orchards.

Chapel Hill Creamery—Garden and Gun includes Chapel Hill Creamery’s Calvander as one of “Six Southern Cheeses to Know.” However, we have it on good authority that Carolina Moon is the cheesemaker’s favorite. You shouldn’t ignore that kind of intel. Best to get both at the Carrboro or Durham Farmers Market.

Locals gone good: Pick up some of Cottage Lane Kitchen’s award winning relish, Get Me a Switch, or the fiery Cape Fear.

3 Responses to Chapel Hill

What a terrific list of places, but I really bummed that Jessee’s Coffee & Bar is NEVER listed! Why, Why, Why???
They have the Best Coffee & Food in town this place has been in business for five years and they just get passed over?
How ironic that they sit right behind Carrburritos!
Shame on YOu!!!